Start looking now! Go to college fairs and start making a list of schools that interest you. What would you like to major in? Think about personal or academic considerations that are important to you like location, distance from home, size of the school, class sizes, and cost. Go on as many campus tours as you can.

Take college-level courses. Take as many college-level courses as you can in high school and commit to developing disciplined study habits. Nobody is born knowing how to do Algebra! Learning is both challenging and rewarding.

Practice required tests. Most U.S. universities require taking the ACT or the SAT as part of the application process. Sign up for practice tests as a sophomore to prepare for the real thing. Ask your guidance counselor for info, tips and any special accommodations.

Learn about admissions requirements. Most schools require college entrance exam scores, high school transcripts, and some personal information. Some, like UTC, don’t strictly admit students based on these standardized tests. Use personal essay sections in college applications to explain your goals, extracurricular activities, and volunteer service.

In-state guarantee! UTC guarantees admission to all high school seniors who meet the following requirements and submit an application: 2.85 w/18 (960 SAT) or a 2.5 GPA w/21 (1060 SAT). And, if you are a Tennessee high school senior, UTC guarantees admission if you finish in the top 10% of your graduating class and have at least a 23 ACT composite score (or SAT equivalent). Learn more about UTC admission requirements and deadlines and how you can qualify for the UTC in-state admission guarantee.

Patience. Waiting to see if you got in to your first-choice school can be nerve-wracking. But don’t fret. Once you’ve applied, it’s out of your hands. At UTC, you can get a decision in about a week thanks to our rolling admissions process.